Jack St. Ivany has given the Capitals something in two games that goes beyond the box score.
The 27-year-old defenseman has already piled up four assists since Washington claimed him off waivers, but the real takeaway is the way he has carried himself since arriving. He made it clear from the start that he was thankful for the chance, wanted to be in Washington and was ready to do whatever he had to do to earn his spot. So far, he has backed that up.
That matters for a team that has long leaned on commitment and buy-in as part of its identity. The Capitals already have enough going for them without taking on someone else’s problems, and the reporting around Dylan Larkin is exactly the sort of situation that should give them pause.
Larkin’s talent is not in question. He is an established center who could help on the ice.
But according to the source reporting, he privately requested a trade, first with a limited list of destinations before broadening it to include more contenders. A deal still has not come together, and the reasons are plain enough: he is good, but apparently not so valuable that top teams are willing to give up a major package of players or draft capital to get him.
After that, he reportedly went a step further and told the Red Wings he would not play again until he was traded, which led to a suspension without pay.
Players can want out. That part is not the issue.
The issue is how far things go once a player has a contract in place. As the source makes clear, being unhappy does not erase the obligation to show up and do the job.
Matt Duchene is held up as the example. He reported to training camp with the Colorado Avalanche even though he was not thrilled about being there, played, and scored the first goal of the season. That is presented as the professional standard: you may dislike the situation, but you still owe the team your work.
Washington, meanwhile, has spent years building around players who chose to be there and stayed there. Alex Ovechkin played his entire NHL career in Washington.
Nicklas Backstrom did too. That kind of loyalty helped shape the culture around the franchise, and the 2018 Stanley Cup team reflected it.
Ovechkin led the way, but players like Backstrom, Brett Connolly and Lars Eller also mattered. The championship was built on more than star power; it was built on contributions from across the lineup and on players who understood their place in the organization.
That is why St. Ivany’s start stands out.
He does not need to become Connolly or Eller overnight. He just needs to keep doing what he has done so far: play his role, stay engaged and make the most of the opportunity Washington gave him.
The larger point is simple. The Capitals do not need to chase every big name that becomes available, especially if the cost is more than picks, prospects or money. Sometimes the price is the feel of the room, and that is worth protecting.
St. Ivany has already shown Washington what that looks like.
He wanted to be here. He is proving it.
In Other News...
Capitals Waiver Pickup Is Suddenly Changing A Bigger Deadline Decision
When the Capitals claimed Jack St. Ivany off waivers from Winnipeg, it looked like a straightforward depth move to help cover injuries on the blue line. Instead, the right-shot defenseman has quickly become part of the conversation for a team that has been leaning on him in recent games, and head coach Spencer Carberys familiarity with St. Ivany from a previous coaching stop helped smooth the transition into the lineup.
What makes the pickup more interesting now is the ripple effect it could have on Washingtons deadline plans. The Capitals already have several right-handed defensemen in the organization, both on the roster and in the minors, and that kind of logjam can shape whether the front office looks to add, stand pat or even move pieces when the NHL deadline arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Alex Tuch Is Giving The Capitals Something They Desperately Needed
Alex Tuch keeps looking like exactly the sort of addition Washington hoped it was getting when it brought him in this summer. He scored twice in the Capitals 5-2 win over the Flyers, continuing a blistering start that has helped steady a team that has now won four of five on its homestand.
The early returns have been impossible to ignore, with Tuch already piling up offense at a pace few in franchise history have matched. Washington has been searching for more finishing punch, and Tuch has provided it almost immediately, giving the Capitals a top-line presence they can lean on while the rest of the roster settles in around him. [Read more 🡒]